ADDICTION RECOVERY

The first step in addiction recovery at our Cellular Detox Center in Sedona is a medical assessment looking for conditions in the body that contribute to fatigue, anxiety, depression, reduced pain tolerance, poor focus and more. These common underlying conditions include food sensitivities, gluten intolerance, adrenal and thyroid imbalances, malabsorption, neurotransmitter deficiency and NAD deficiency. While these issues are treated, mostly with nutritional supplements and diet, the patient receives intravenous NAD based on individually designed protocols for a 10 day period of time, supervised by our medical staff.

The IV NAD improves brain function based on higher levels of cellular energy production along with increased neurotransmitters, such as serotonin. There is some withdrawal symptoms for two or three days, but reduced by 70 to 80% when compared to “cold turkey” withdrawal. After three to five days as withdrawal symptoms disappear, craving subsides and clarity of thinking is restored.

This treatment is the beginning of the process of healing. Once the brain and body are functioning better, the patient has the energy, clarity and focus to engage in the recovery process. He or she will understand the reasons for compulsive behavior and with better health and motivation, they can stop compulsive behaviors and make mindful choices that are self-supportive rather than self-destructive.

Studies done in the early 1960s demonstrated the efficacy and safety of IV NAD in detoxifying patients from alcohol, opiates, tranquilizers and stimulants. Like the early studies, our experience substantiates its benefits in greatly reducing withdrawal symptoms, as well as reducing, and often eliminating the cravings.

Patients are provided with continued integrative care for their underlying medical problems, which helps them to feel better physically and mentally. Therefore they are more likely to continue healing psychologically, emotionally, socially and spiritually. A two year commitment to after care treatment is critical. The underlying psychological issues which often lead to substance abuse must be resolved for long lasting recovery

BACKGROUND

THE BODY

THE MIND AND SPIRIT

NAD DEFICIENCY – A KEY ISSUE

GENETICS AND ADDICTION

NAD DEFICIENCY:

DOPAMINE D2 RECEPTOR IMPAIRMENT

(COMT) DEFICIENCY:

BACKGROUND

Addiction is a disease in the body and the mind and successful therapy depends on treating both. The Cellular Detox Centers procedures are based on the unity of mind and body and focuses on promoting health and balance in both the mind and body, thereby providing highly effective therapy for addiction. If you detoxify, or withdraw, from alcohol or a drug, but do not address the conditions in the body that create fatigue, depression, and anxiety, then relapse is more likely and therapy has been incomplete. Similarly, if you withdraw from a substance and do not understand the psychological and spiritual issues that promoted the need for it, then relapse is likely and the “lessons of disease” have not been learned.

THE BODY

Integrative, or, functional medicine provides the tools to assess and treat the conditions in the body that contribute to fatigue, depression, and anxiety, thereby increasing the likelihood of chemical dependency. These include:

The origins of most physical disease are within consciousness – the body is the messenger of the conflicts, sustained fears, suppressed emotional traumas, disturbed patterns of thinking, and other imbalances that lie within the conscious and unconscious mind. Many people have painful childhood experiences, including patterns of neglect, smothering control, abandonment, and emotional, physical and sexual abuse. Later on there can be failed relationships, years of marital conflict, and the pain of loneliness.

Dis-ease of any kind is the body’s way of getting your attention and inviting this self-exploration, thereby offering true healing.

Brain dis-ease – Reward Deficiency Syndrome

Neurotransmitters are chemicals in the brain that help to control states of consciousness, including moods. Serotonin and GABA down-regulate electrical activity in the brain, thereby contributing to calm, peacefulness, or less anxiety. Adrenaline and nor-adrenaline up-regulate electrical activity thereby promoting excitement, motivation, or, reducing depression and apathy. Dopamine is the “feel good” brain chemical. It is the dance of these electro-chemicals that produce emotional balance and feelings of well-being.

When the proper flow, or cascade, of these neurochemicals is impaired, or, the brain’s receptors are blocked, then a variety of problems can develop, including:

When the proper flow, or cascade, of these neurochemicals is impaired, or, the brain’s receptors are blocked, then a variety of problems can develop, including:

Mood instability

Irritability
agitation
hypersensitivity
Anxiety

Mood instability

Apathy
Impaired concentration
Trouble focusing
Despair

A host of medical and lifestyle issues can disturb the healthy flow of neurotransmitters, including chronic stress, alcohol, drug abuse, genetics, poor diet, digestive disturbances and malabsorption, micronutrient deficiency and more. The result can be Reward Deficiency Syndrome (RDS), a term primarily used for hereditary chemical imbalances wherein the pleasure centers, which regulate feelings of well being in the brain, fail to receive appropriate neural signals. As a result, the brain sends out urgent messages of craving. In the brains of addicts, various neurotransmissions are affected, depending upon the drug or drugs that have been used. As a result addicts experience difficulty concentrating and have mood swings, for example, as well as having other physical symptoms. Collectively, these symptoms are called cravings and withdrawals. Craving and withdrawal symptoms are a result of a neurochemical imbalance in the brain.

It is the Reward Deficiency Syndrome that causes the compulsive use of alcohol and drugs that help to feel good, at least temporarily. In addition to alcohol, people use nicotine, other stimulants, illicit drugs, junk foods, sugars, or thrill-seeking behaviors such as gambling, sex and Internet porn. Unfortunately, this only provides temporary relief while bringing with it the possibility of more long-term problems.

NAD DEFICIENCY – A KEY ISSUE

NAD stands for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, which is the chemical term for a molecule that reacts with oxygen in the mitochondria in every cell of your body in order to create energy so you can move, breathe, pump blood, digest food, think, and generally, live your life. Lack of this essential cellular fuel is now recognized as a key feature of chronic fatigue, apathy, depression, anxiety, alcohol and drug addiction, weak immune system (infections and cancer), muscle pain and weakness, headaches, memory disturbance, sleep problems, focus and concentration defects and other chronic diseases. NAD deficiency may be an unrecognized epidemic of cellular disease. Let us take a look at some of the functions of NAD in the body:

Increases energy in brain cells

Stimulates production of dopamine, serotonin, and noradrenaline, thereby improving moods

Increases energy in heart cells

Protects and repairs DNA, reducing DNA mutations which contribute to atherosclerosis, cancer, immunodeficiency, rheumatoid arthritis, and much more

The “most powerful antioxidant” in the body according to Dr. Richard Passwater in his book NADH-The Energizing Coenzyme

Lowers cholesterol

Lowers blood pressure

Strengthens the immune system

Stimulates nitric oxide production, thereby improving blood flow in the body Medical research has shown the following medical conditions to improve with NAD therapy:

Chronic fatigue

Depression

Anxietyn

Alcohol and drug addiction

Sleep disturbance

Memory loss (forgetfulness)

Attention deficit

Diabetes

Muscle pain and weakness

Joint pain and stiffness

Headaches

Fevers, sore throats and swollen lymph glands

Parkinson’s disease

Cancer Research has also shown that NAD can provide the following benefits in “healthy” people:

Increased physical energy

Improved mental performance

Improved response to short term sleep deprivation

Reduce the effects of jet lag

Enhance libido

Anti-aging Since NAD is so fundamental to good health, how is it that we can become deficient in this powerful molecule? First of all, the vitamins, minerals, complex carbohydrates, proteins and fats come from our diet and provide the building blocks to citric acid cycle energy production. If any one of the nutritional factors is low, energy production is weakened. Since oxygen is just as important as hydrogen in cellular energetics, lack of exercise and shallow breathing due to stress are common factors that can reduce the amount of oxygen at the cell level. And finally the enzymes that catalyze the citric acid cycle are often inhibited or destroyed by chemical or physical toxins that create oxidative, or free radical, damage. Free radical damage comes from cigarette smoke, drugs, radio waves from cell phones and wi-fi, chem-trails, and the myriad chemicals found in all humans at this time on earth, including phalates, parabens, pesticides, styrene, benzene, toluene, and thousands more. Genetic NAD deficiency may be present at birth and appear in children as poor sleeping, behavioral problems, hyperactivity, impaired concentration, academic stress and underachievement. Some people have been tired and depressed for as long as they can remember. For these people there is a greater tendency to try drugs and alcohol in order to improve energy and mood, and simply feel better, but the risk for addiction is high.

GENETICS AND ADDICTION

A word of caution is necessary as we discuss genetics and addiction, or, any other disease. Inherited variations in genes do not invariably lead to disease. Lifestyle and mind style factors often override, so to speak, a genetic tendency. Basically the DNA is the hardware in the computer and the epigenome is the software, which is influenced by our lifestyle and the choices we make in our lives. The epigenome responds to our thoughts, emotions, beliefs and overall stress levels, as well as our diet, exercise levels and other features of our daily lives. Basically, the genes put the bullet in the gun, but it is our lifestyle and mind style that pulls the trigger.

NAD DEFICIENCY:

There may be a genetic polymorphism that reduces a gene coding for a mitochondrial protein which regulates NAD production. Since mitochondrial DNA is all received from the mother through the egg (no mitochondria are found in sperm) we can look to the maternal side for clues to energy production in the family history.

DOPAMINE D2 RECEPTOR IMPAIRMENT

Since the primary neurotransmitter of the reward pathway is dopamine, genes for dopamine synthesis, degradation, receptors, and transporters are areas of research. Also, serotonin, norepinephrine, GABA, opioid, and cannabinoid neurons all modify dopamine metabolism and dopamine neurons. Therefore, defects in various combinations of the genes for these neurotransmitters may result in a Reward Deficiency Syndrome (RDS).

(COMT) DEFICIENCY:

COMT is one of several enzymes that degrade catecholamines, such as dopamine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine. Deficiencies in this enzyme increase the probability of anxiety, panic and other mood disorders.